Friday, January 24, 2014

What to do when you've finished "The Empty Hearse"?

If, like me, you've been waiting for PBS to air the latest season of Sherlock, you'll probably understand the dread in anticipating the wait for series four. That's why we put together some reading and viewing suggestions to help keep you entertained (when you aren't rewatching the first three seasons).

Sherlock, a co-production with the BBC, takes the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and reworks them for the modern world. Dr. Watson has a blog, and Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) has amazing cheekbones. Each episode is more like a short film than a typical TV episode, which contributes to the years fans have had to wait for the second and third seasons.We've tackled some of the many variations on Holmes's story on the blog before, and the field is likely to only become more crowded, now that much of Doyle's writing is in the public domain. If you're looking for a fun comparison, Elementary is another series that updates the mythology of Sherlock Holmes to the present day. Though in this version, Holmes lives in New York City, and Watson is played by Lucy Liu.
Reading suggestions for fans of Sherlock:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark HaddonThis moving story about a teen, Christopher, who employs the methods of Sherlock Holmes to investigate the vicious murder of his neighbor's dog. Christopher's autism makes it difficult for him to understand the people around him, but his focus leads him to uncover a dark secret in his own family.

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo HigashinoThis award-winning Japanese mystery tells an intricately plotted tale of cat and mouse. Ishigami, a solitary math teacher, helps his attractive neighbor cover up the murder of her abusive ex-husband. A crime complicated when Dr. Yukawa, Ishigami's successful rival, enters the investigation.

The Last Policeman by Ben H. WintersAs the end of the world approaches in the form of an asteroid, Detective Hank Palace is focused on his first murder case. Offbeat and intricately plotted, readers will appreciate Palace's outsider perspective.

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain PearsA darkly convoluted plot drives this character-driven mystery set in 17th century England. The conflicting perspectives, the complex politics, and the changing understanding of medicine adds to the tension.